Article: The Emerging Consensus: Do CIR Now! by Sheela Murthy, et al.

The Emerging Consensus: Do CIR Now!

The Emerging Consensus: Do CIR Now!

January 22, 2013

After years of ceaseless partisan bickering, it may look like a sign of the apocalypse: interest groups - both right and left - are forging a broad consensus on immigration reform, finding common purpose in the recognition that our current system is no longer up to the task. Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO - the voice of business and the voice of organized labor - both gave their full-throated endorsement to a comprehensive overhaul of our immigration laws.

Tom Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, delivered his "State of American Business" address on January 10th, making a compelling case for prompt action on CIR.

"Given our changing demographics, we need more workers to sustain our economy, support our retired population, and to stay competitive. Even with high unemployment, we have millions of job openings that go unfilled. Either the workers come here to fill those jobs or the companies take all of their jobs somewhere else… We are locked in a global competition for the world's best talent. This is the competition that will separate the economic leaders from the laggards in the 21st century." [See State of American Business, Remarks by Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 10.Jan.2013.]

Donohue called for secure borders, guest worker programs that bring much-needed labor and talent into our economy, and provisional visas for less-skilled workers. It's also imperative, he said, to expand the caps for high-skilled visas and provide more green cards for foreign STEM graduates of American universities.

Added tax revenues from new jobs and higher wages will help local communities and states maintain and improve public services, including education.

It's the right thing to do.

When it comes time to parse through the legislative proposals coming from Capitol Hill, there are sure to be some disagreements about the details, but what's most important, at this juncture, is the widespread agreement that CIR needs to happen now.

About The Author

Attorneys from the Murthy Law Firm. Sheela Murthy is the founder of the Murthy Law Firm, which consists of approximately 85 full time attorneys, paralegals, and support staff, who provide excellent service in the area of U.S. Immigration Law to clients worldwide. The Murthy Law Firm handles cases ranging from Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized and small companies, to individuals who are undergoing the U.S. immigration process. A graduate of Harvard Law School with an LL.M degree and herself an immigrant, Attorney Murthy understands the complexities of immigration and empathizes with those faced with its challenges

The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ILW.COM.

What pray tell is a provisional visa? Does he mean a non-immigrant visa? You take seriously someone like this who obviously knows nothing about immigration or who is so dishonest he can't use accurate language to describe what he wants?